Polyester graft copolymers, flexible coating compositions comprising same and branched polyester macromers for preparing same (III)

ABSTRACT

Hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymers are provided. The copolymer is crosslinkable by hydroxy-reactive crosslinking agent and, in particular, is suitable for use in thermosetting coating compositions adapted to form a flexible cured coating over a variety of substrates, such as metal and plastic. The copolymer has a number average molecular weight between about 1,300 and about 15,000, has a hydroxyl number between about 30 and about 300, and is the reaction product of carbon-carbon double bond-reactive monoethylenically unsaturated monomer with hydroxy functional carbon-carbon double bond-bearing branched polyester macromer. The macromer is the reaction product of (i) hydroxy functional polyester reactant containing 0-10 urethane linkages per molecule with (ii) halide compound consisting of vinyl alkyl halide compound and vinyl aryl halide compound wherein the reaction of (i) and (ii) takes place under conditions that promote substantially only the reaction between the halide moiety of compound (ii) and the hydroxyl groups of reactant (i).

This is a division of application Ser. No. 021,131, filed Feb. 6, 1987, now abandoned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to resins and flexible coating compositions comprising same which have excellent adherence to metal and plastic and possess superior weathering properties. More particularly, the invention relates to hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymers and to coating compositions comprising same.

BACKGROUND

Recently, there has been interest in the use of resilient coating materials for areas which are subject to mechanical shock, such as automobile bumpers, moldings and front ends. To maintain the desired appearance for a protective coating on a motor vehicle body panel or like application, any such coating must have certain properties, such as a high degree of extensibility, impact resistance, and resistance to cracking and degradation under severe environmental conditions such as low temperature and high humidity. Conventional coatings, including those heretofore employed on rubber and similar extensible objects, do not have the required combination of properties. Generally, compositions that are flexible enough to be applied over both metal and plastic substrates have rather poor weatherability, appearance, and/or overall durability.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,189 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,522 are exemplary of numerous patents which describe flexible coating compositions, wherein the resin comprises polyurethane modified polyesters formed by reacting polyisocyanate with polyester polyols. These resins are cured with amine-aldehyde crosslinkers. It is taught therein, that the presence of the urethane groups in the polymer significantly contributes to the flexibility as well as improved weathering properties, gloss, and abrasion resistance of the coating. Such coatings, however, are not of an overall quality to meet certain applications, particularly automotive applications. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel polyester graft copolymers and solvent based, thermosetting coating compositions comprising same, suitable to produce flexible cured coatings with good adhesion over diverse substrates including metal and plastic. In this regard, it is a particular object of the invention to provide such flexible coating compositions at sufficiently low Volatile Organic Content (VOC) to aid in meeting governmental emissions guidelines and yet which can be applied to a substrate by spraying or other known methods. It is another object of the invention to provide a composition which will form a coating on a substrate, which coating has advantageous physical properties including, for example, humidity and solvent resistance, flexibility and corrosion protection for the underlying substrate.

Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description thereof.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a novel, non-gelled, hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer is provided. The copolymer is crosslinkable by hydroxy-reactive crosslinking agent and, in particular, is suitable for use in thermosetting coating compositions adapted to form a flexible cured coating over a variety of substrates, such as metal and plastic. The copolymer of the invention has a number average molecular weight between about 1300 and about 15,000, has a hydroxyl number between about 30 and about 300, and is the reaction product of carbon-carbon double bond-reactive monoethylenically unsaturated monomer with hydroxy functional carbon-carbon double bond-bearing branched polyester macromer. This reaction is performed under free radical polymerization reaction conditions and the monomer bears substantially no functionality which would be substantially reactive with the hydroxy functionality of the macromer under such reaction conditions. The macromer is the reaction product of (i) hydroxy functional polyester reactant containing 0-10 urethane linkages per molecule with (ii) halide compound selected from the group consisting of vinyl alkyl halide compound and vinyl aryl halide compound, wherein the reaction of (i) and (ii) takes place under conditions that promote substantially only the reaction between the halide moiety of compound (ii) with the hydroxyl groups of reactant (i).

According to the coating composition aspect of the invention, the aforesaid copolymer is employed with polyfunctional, hydroxy-reactive crosslinking agent selected, preferably, from melamine based crosslinking agent, polyisocyanate crosslinking agent, blocked polyisocyanate crosslinking agent comprising at least two isocyanate groups blocked by reaction with active hydrogen bearing blocking agent, and any compatible mixture thereof.

The coating compositions of the invention can be formulated as either one component coating compositions or two component coating compositions. Typically, unblocked polyisocyanate crosslinking agent is employed in two component compositions in view of its reactivity. A composition of the invention can be formulated, for example, as a one component primer, typically employing blocked polyisocyanate or melamine based crosslinking agent, as a one component topcoat, preferably employing melamine based crosslinking agent, or as a two component coating, typically employing polyisocyanate crosslinking agent. Also, the polyester graft copolymer of the invention can be formulated as a pigmented base coat, typically a one component composition, for a base coat/clear coat system such as are known for use as automotive finishes. It also can be formulated as the clear coat thereof, either as a one component or a two component composition.

Advantageously, the flexible coatings of the invention possess superior weathering properties as well as excellent adhesion to metal and plastic, thus making them well suited for use as coatings on, for example, various motor vehicle components. Still further, the ability to use the same coating composition on metal and plastic components in motor vehicle production offers distinct commercial advantages, particularly in terms of production efficiency. Because these coatings can be employed on metal as well as plastic components, the problem of color matching, which must be resolved when using different coatings on metal and plastic parts which are to be in proximity to one another, is eliminated. These and additional features and advantages of the invention will be better understood in view of the following detailed disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The resin of the invention is a novel, hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer of number average molecular weight (M_(n)) between about 1300 and about 15,000, preferably between about 1300 and about 4,000, and having a hydroxyl number between about 30 and about 300, preferably between about 50 and about 150. The resin is optionally urethane-modified, more specifically, containing about 0-10 urethane linkages per molecule. Preferably, the resin contains about 0-5 urethane linkages per molecule. As disclosed above, the resin is the reaction product of carbon-carbon double bond-reactive monoethylenically unsaturated monomer with certain hydroxy functional carbon-carbon double bond-bearing branched polyester macromer. Each of these reactants is discussed below in greater detail.

Carbon-Carbon Double Bond-Reactive Monoethylenically Unsaturated Monomer

Numerous carbon-carbon double bond-reactive monoethylenically unsaturated monomers suitable for making the polyester graft copolymer are known to the skilled of the art. Included are many which are commercially available and many which will be readily apparent in view of the present disclosure. The choice of monomer reactant employed in making the polyester graft copolymer will depend to a large extent upon the particular application intended for the resin or for the coating composition in which the resin is to be used. Examples of suitable monoethylenically unsaturated monomers include, for example, vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons such as styrene, alpha methyl styrene, and vinyl toluene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, and the like.

Preferred monomers are acrylate monomers. Numerous acrylate monomers suitable for preparing the hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer are known to the skilled of the art and include many which are commercially available and which will be readily apparent in view of the present disclosure. As noted above, the choice of monomer reactant employed in preparing the resin of the invention will depend to a large extent upon the particular application intended for the resin or for the composition in which the resin is used. Suitable hydroxy-substituted alkyl(meth)acrylates having 2-12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group (where "alkyl(meth)acrylates" means, in the alternative, alkylacrylates and alkylmethacrylates) which can be employed are as follows:

2-hydroxy ethyl acrylate; 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl acrylate; 2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl acrylate; 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate; 3-hydroxypropyl acrylate; 2,3-dihydroxypropyl acrylate; 2-hydroxybutyl acrylate; 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate; diethyleneglycol acrylate; 5-hydroxypentyl acrylate; 6-hydroxyhexyl acrylate; triethyleneglycol acrylate; 7-hydroxyheptyl acrylate; 2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl methacrylate; 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate; 3-hydroxypropyl methacrylate; 2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate; 2-hydroxybutyl methacrylate; 4-hydroxybutyl methacrylate; 3,4-dihydroxybutyl methacrylate; 5-hydroxypentyl methacrylate; 6-hydroxyhexyl methacrylate; 1,3-dimethyl-3-hydroxybutyl methacrylate; 5,6-dihydroxyhexyl methacrylate; and 7-hydroxyheptyl methacrylate. Although one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many different hydroxy-substituted alkyl(meth)acrylates including those listed above could be employed, the preferred hydroxy functional monomers for use in the resin of this invention are hydroxy-substituted alkyl acrylates and methacrylates having a total of 5 to 7 carbon atoms, such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl methacrylate and hydroxypropyl acrylate and the like.

Most preferably, the hydroxy-substituted alkyl(meth)acrylate monomer comprises a compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R¹ is hydrogen or methyl and R² and R³ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Illustrative of these particularly suitable hydroxy-substituted alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers are 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl acrylate and 2-hydroxy-1-methylhexyl acrylate.

Suitable non-hydroxy substituted alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers which may be employed are (meth)acrylates (as before, meaning esters of either acrylic or methacrylic acid) as well as mixtures of acrylates and vinyl hydrocarbons. Preferred non-hydroxy substituted monomers are the following:

methylmethacrylate, ethylacrylate, butylacrylate, butyl-methacrylate, hexylacrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, lauryl-methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, and the like.

Particularly preferred non-hydroxy substituted monomers are compounds selected from the group consisting of monomers of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R⁴ is alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and R⁵ is hydrogen or methyl. Particularly preferred are butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate.

The aforesaid monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbons, preferably containing from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, including styrene, alpha-methyl styrene, vinyl toluene, t-butyl styrene, chlorostyrene and the like, when employed, will generally be present in an amount of from about 5 to 95 weight percent, preferably from about 5 to 25 weight percent of the total monoethylenically unsaturated monomer.

In addition, other suitable monoethylenically unsaturated monomers such as vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid also may be employed. In the case of acrylic acid, when employed, this monomer will generally be present in an amount from about 2 to 5 weight percent of the total monomer mixture. The remaining above-mentioned monomers will generally be used in an amount of from 3 to 10 weight percent of the monomer mixture, when employed.

Hydroxy Functional Carbon-Carbon Double Bond-Bearing Branched Polyester Macromer

The hydroxy functional polyester macromer is reacted with the above described monoethylenically unsaturated monomer according to any of various methods well known to the skilled of the art, which methods will be apparent in view of the present disclosure. Specifically, the macromer and the monomer are employed in a weight ratio of from about 90:10 to about 40:60, more preferably from about 75:25 to about 50:50, respectively. Preferably, all double bonds of the macromer are reacted with monomer double bonds. It will be apparent that the resulting resin will be hydroxy functional by virtue of the macromer hydroxyl groups and the monomer hydroxyl groups (if any). Suitable reaction conditions will be apparent to the skilled of the art and, generally, will include a solvent system and reaction temperature favoring free radical polymerization reaction.

The hydroxy functional polyester macromer is the reaction product of any of certain hydroxy functional polyester reactant with any of certain vinyl alkyl halide compound or vinyl aryl halide compounds. Each of these reactants is discussed below in greater detail.

Hydroxy Functional Polyester Reactant

The hydroxy functional polyester reactant has a number average molecular weight (M_(n)) preferably between about 1,000 and about 10,000, more preferably between about 1,000 and about 3,000, and has a hydroxyl number preferably between about 30 and about 300, more preferably, between about 50 and about 150. As discussed further below, the polyester preferably, but not necessarily, is urethane modified, that is, bears urethane linkages in the polyester backbone. Suitable hydroxy functional polyesters, both urethane modified and unmodified, are known to the skilled in the art and will be apparent in view of the present disclosure. Such compounds can be prepared according to known methods which also will be apparent in view of the present disclosure. The choice of polyester reactant will depend to a large extent upon the particular application intended for the final resin or composition in which such resin is used.

One suitable class of polyester reactants comprises the reaction products of polyol with dicarboxylic acid or an anhydride thereof and most preferably such polyesters are oligomeric polyesters. Preferably, the diacid is selected from the group consisting of saturated dicarboxylic acids including cyclic and acyclic aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, aromatic dicarboxylic acids, and suitable anhydrides thereof. Preferred dicarboxylic acids are the C₆ -C₃₆ acids, which include, for example, adipic, azelaic, sebasic, dodecane dicarboxylic acid, an cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and dimer acids. More preferably, the dicarboxylic acids employed are aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, most preferably additionally being linear, for example, adipic, azelaic, dimer, and dodecanoic. Also suitable for use as diacid are blocked dicarboxylic acids such as dimethyl-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate. Mixtures of suitable diacids and/or their anhydrides may also be used as the dicarboxylic acid component in this invention.

Numerous suitable polyols for use in making the hydroxy functional polyester are known to the skilled of the art and will be readily apparent in view of the present disclosure. Included are many commercially available polyols and others which are readily prepared according to known methods. Preferably, the polyol comprises diol and triol in hydroxyl equivalent ratio of from about 4:1 to about 1:4, more preferably from about 3:1 to about 3:2.5, respectively. Suitable diols include, but are not limited to, alkylene glycols, such as butylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, 1,5-pentene glycol, 3-cyclohexene-1,1-dimethylol, and other glycols such as hydrogenated bisphenol A, caprolactone diol (e.g., the reaction product of caprolactone and ethylene glycol), hydroxy alkylated bisphenol, polyether glycols, e.g., poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol, polyester diols, e.g., 2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypropyl-2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypropionate, and the like. Preferred diols are neopentyl glycol and 2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypropyl-2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypropionate, the latter material being commercially available as Esterdiol 204 (trademark; Union Carbide Corp., Danbury, Conn.)

The polyol generally should comprise at least about 5 weight percent triol and may consist substantially entirely of triol. The polyol component also may comprise tetrols and higher functionality polyols, but these generally are less preferred. By employing diols in the polyol component in addition to the triols, the flexibility of the coating composition is generally increased. Thus, selection of the polyol component to be used in forming the polyester compositions will be dependent on the particular desired properties and application of the coating composition. When diols are employed in the polyol component, the polyol preferably comprises from about 10 to about 80 weight percent triols and from about 90 to about 20 weight percent diols. Preferred triols are conventional low molecular triols such as 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane, 3-(2-hydroxypropoxy)-1,2-propanediol and polycaprolactone triols, which are commercially available as, for example, Tone-301 (trademark; Union Carbide Corp. Danbury, Conn.). Additional preferred polycaprolactone triols are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,345, incorporated herein by reference. Suitable tetrols will be apparent and include, for example, pentaerythritol and the like.

While a number of types of polyols have been mentioned above as suitable for use in making the hydroxy functional polyester reactant, their disclosure is not meant to be limiting. A great many additional suitable diols, triols, etc. are known in the art and selection of other polyols which would be suitable for use would be well within the skill of those in the art in view of this disclosure.

The polyol reactant (i.e., diols, triols and optionally tetrols, etc.) and diacid reactant are combined and reacted, generally in the presence of a catalyst and at elevated temperatures, to produce the aforesaid hydroxy functional polyester. Suitable catalysts for the carboxy/hydroxy condensation reaction include such catalysts as tetraisopropyl titanate, strong acids such as p-toluene phosphonic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and materials such as zinc oxide, antimony oxide (Sb₂ O₃), dibutyl tin oxide, hydrated monobutyl tin oxide, and sodium acetate. Other catalysts will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. The polyol and dicarboxylic acid are reacted preferably in such proportions as to provide a molar equivalent ratio of OH to COOH from about 6:2 to about 6:5, respectively. Sufficient polyol must be used to provide a hydroxy functional polyester product.

As noted above, the hydroxy functional polyester is optionally urethane modified and typically may contain about 1-10 urethane groups per molecule. According to one embodiment of the invention, urethane groups are introduced by reaction of hydroxy functional polyester, prepared as described above, with organic diisocyanate. Such reaction is carried out according to known methods, generally in the presence of solvents commonly employed for coating formulations such as toluene, xylene methyl amyl ketone, and the like. Numerous suitable organic diisocyanates are readily commercially available and will be apparent to the skilled of the art in view of the present disclosure. Suitable diisocyanates include hydrocarbon diisocyanate or substituted hydrocarbon diisocyanate, such as 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate, biphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and 3,3-dimethyl-4,4-biphenylene diisocyanate. While the diisocyanate may be any of a number of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, and aromatic diisocyanates, it is preferred that the diisocyanate be an aliphatic diisocyanate, such as 4,4-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, mixtures of various diisocyanates may also be employed as the diisocyanate component used in forming urethane-modified polyester. Typically, the hydroxy functional polyester and diisocyanate are reacted in such proportions as to provide about 4-10 hydroxyl groups per isocyanate group.

While urethane modification may be introduced in the manner discussed above, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention the polyol component empolyed in reaction with dicarboxylic acid comprises urethane modified polyol. In this case, there is no need to react with diisocyanate the polyester reaction product of polyol and dicarboxylic acid. Employing urethane modified polyol is found to provide a final resin, i.e., a polyester graft copolymer, which is somewhat more flexible than when the urethane groups are introduced by reaction of the polyester with diisocyanate. Suitable urethane modified polyols are commercially available or readily prepared according to known methods. Exemplary urethane modified diols are made by reaction of diol and diisocyanate in a molar ratio of from about 4:1 to about 4:3, preferably from about 2:0.8 to about 2:1.2, more preferably about 2:1. Suitable diols and diisocyanates include those mentioned above. Such ratio of diol to diisocyanate (i.e., a molar excess of diol) causes the reaction product to be substantially free of unreacted isocyanate groups. This urethane modified diol is then combined with other portions of the polyol reactant (e.g., additional diol, triol, tetrol, etc.) and the dicarboxylic acid reactant, generally at elevated temperature and in the presence of a catalyst (as discussed above) to produce the hydroxy functional polyester, specifically, a hydroxy functional urethane modified polyester. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that urethane modified triol, urethane modified tetrols, etc. can be used in addition to or in lieu of urethane modified diol, according to the methods and guidelines discussed above, to provide hydroxy functional urethane modified polyester.

Vinyl Alkyl Halide Compound and Vinyl Aryl Halide Compound

Vinyl alkyl and vinyl aryl halide compounds suitable for reaction with hydroxy functional polyester reactant in making the polyester macromer of the invention are those difunctional compounds which contain a vinyl functionality (CH₂ ═CH--) in addition to alkyl halide or aryl halide functionality. The alkyl group may be a cyclic, acyclic or branched alkyl group. The alkyl or aryl group may be substituted with non-interfering functionality, i.e., functionality which does not substantially interfere with the intended reaction of the hydroxyl groups of the polyester reactant and the halide moiety of the halide compounds. The alkyl and aryl halide compound may be selected from fluorides, chlorides, bromides and iodides having the required vinyl group. Preferably, the halide compound is a chloride. Many such vinyl alkyl and vinyl aryl halide compounds are known and selection of suitable compounds useful in this invention would be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure. Commercially available or readily synthesizable vinyl alkyl halide compounds and vinyl aryl halide compounds useful in this invention include, but are not limited to, (i) the bromoacetates and chloroacetates of hydroxyalkylacrylates and hydroxyalkylmethacrylates such as the bromoacetates and chloroacetates of hydroxypropylacrylate, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, hydroxypropylmethacrylate, and hydroxyethylacrylate, and (ii) vinyl benzyl halides such as vinyl benzyl chloride, vinyl benzyl bromide and vinyl benzyl iodide, and the like. Preferably, the vinyl halide compound is vinyl benzyl chloride. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure, a compatible mixture of such compounds may also be employed as the halide compound. The vinyl alkyl halide compound or vinyl aryl halide compound employed to make the polyester macromers of this invention preferably has a molecular weight of about 50 to about 300, more preferably between about 80 and about 160. The choice of vinyl alkyl or aryl halide compound employed in preparing the polyester macromer will depend largely upon the particular application intended for the final resin or for the composition comprising the resin.

The halide compound and polyester reactant are reacted together according to known methods and reaction conditions. The reaction takes place under conditions that promote substantially only the reaction between the halide moiety of the halide compound with the hydroxyl groups of the hydroxy functional polyester reactant. Typically, these two reactants are employed in molar ratio of about 2:1 to about 1:2, more preferably about 1:1. More generally, the halide compound is used in an amount insufficient to yield a gelled reaction product. Also, the vinyl alkyl halide compound and vinyl aryl halide compound is used in an amount insufficient to react with all of the hydroxy functionality of the polyester reactant, since the reaction product, the branched polyester macromer, must have hydroxy moiety to react with the crosslinking agent during cure. In preparing the macromer, a catalyst may be employed for the reaction between the halide moiety of the halide compound and the hydroxy functionality of the polyester reactant. The desirability of using a catalyst and selection of the particular catalyst which would be employed for the reaction of the hydroxyl group/halide moiety would, of course be dependent on the particular alkyl or aryl halide moiety of the halide compound. For example, if the moiety is benzyl chloride, a catalyst such as s-collidine may be employed. Suitable catalysts will be apparent in view of the present disclosure. It is also preferred to employ an agent to inhibit polymerization reaction of the carbon-carbon double bonds of the halide compound. Suitable inhibiting agents are well known and include, for example, hydroquinone and others which will be apparent in view of this disclosure.

Coating Compositions

According to another aspect of the invention, the above-described hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer is employed in an organic solvent based thermosetting coating composition together with suitable polyfunctional hydroxy-reactive crosslinking agent. Such crosslinking agent is selected, preferably, from aminoplast crosslinking agents and polyisocyanate crosslinking agents, either blocked or unblocked depending upon the intended application. Coating compositions of the invention can be formulated so as to be suitable for numerous different applications including, particularly, as motor vehicle body panel coatings. Thus, for example, a coating composition of the invention can be formulated as a primer or as a topcoat, such as a basecoat for a basecoat/clearcoat system, a clearcoat for a basecoat/clearcoat system, or as a one-coating topcoat. Moreover, any of these coatings can be formulated as either a one-component (i.e., resin and crosslinker combined) or a two-component (i.e., resin and crosslinker segregated) coating composition, except that the basecoat of a base/clear system generally would be formulated only as a one-component coating in view of the high pigment content thereof and the mixing and dispersion problems which would result in attempting to add the crosslinking agent at the time of application to a substrate. It is, of course, well known to the skilled of the art to employ unblocked polyisocyanate crosslinking agents generally only in two-component formulations to prevent premature reaction thereof with the hydroxy functional copolymer. Blocked polyisocyanate crosslinkers are employed in one-component coatings, but typically these are employed in primers since the two-component unblocked polyisocyanate coatings of the invention are found generally to provide better surface appearance. The melamine based crosslinking agents also are employed, typically, in one component formulations.

In a coating composition intended for use as a high solids basecoat or clear coat of a base/clear automotive coating formulation, typically it is preferred that the polyester graft copolymer have a number average molecular weight (M_(n)) between about 1,500 and about 3,000, more preferably between about 1,500 and about 2,500. Also, for such use the resin preferably has a hydroxy number between about 50 and about 150.

Crosslinking Agent

The crosslinking agent is generally included in compositions of the invention in an amount sufficient to cure the composition. Preferably, the polyisocyanate or blocked polyisocyanate crosslinking agent is included in compositions of the invention in amounts such that, at the cure temperature of the composition, they provide between about 0.5 and about 1.6, more preferably between about 0.5 and about 1.0 reactive isocyanate groups per hydroxyl group present in the hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer. When melamine based crosslinking agent is employed, it preferably is employed in amounts between about 5% and about 60% by weight of the total weight of resin solids, i.e., the total weight of crosslinkable resins and crosslinker. More preferably, the melamine crosslinking agent is employed in an amount between about 20% and about 40% by weight of the total weight of resin solids. Selection of the optimal amount of crosslinking agent to be employed in the coating composition is dependent upon the desired properties (e.g., flexibility) of the coating as well as its intended use (which determines, in part, its desired cure response and desired shelf stability), and selection of such amount would be within the skill of one in the art.

Polyisocyanate crosslinking agents, i.e., isocyanate compounds containing two or more isocyanate groups per molecule, are well known in the art and numerous suitable organic polyisocyanates will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Among the many suitable polyisocyanates are aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and aromatic isocyanate compounds. Representative of the numerous isocyanates which can be employed are (1) aliphatic diisocyanates such as trimethylene diisocyanate, tetramethylene diisocyanate, pentamethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 1,2-propylene diisocyanate, 1,2-butylene diisocyanate, 2,3-butylene diisocyanate, 1,3-butylene diisocyanate, ethylidene diisocyanate, butylidene diisocyanate, 4,4'-bis(isocyanate hexyl)methane, bis(2-isocyanate-ethyl)fumarate, 2,6-diisocyanate methyl caproate, 2,2,4-(2,4,4)-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate, and dimer acid diisocyanates;

(2) cycloaliphatic diisocyanates such as 1,3-cyclopentane diisocyanate, 1,4-cyclopentane diisocyanate, 1,2-cyclopentane diisocyanate, and methylcyclohexylene diisocyanate; (3) aromatic diisocyanates such as m-phenylene diisocyanate, p-phenylenediisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenyl diisocyanate;

(4) aliphatic/aromatic diisocyanates such as 4,4'-diphenylene methane diisocyanates, 2,4- or 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 4,4'-toluidene diisocyanate, 1,4-xylylene diisocyanate;

(5) nuclear substituted aromatic compounds such as dianisidine diisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenylether diisocyanate, chlorodiphenylene diisocyanate; (6) triisocyanates such as diphenylmethane-4,4',4"-triisocyanate, 1,3,5-triisocyanate benzene, 2,4,6-triisocyanate toluene;

(7) tetraisocyanates such as 4,4'-diphenyl dimethylmethane 2,2',5,5'-tetraisocyanate; (8)

polymerized isocyanates such as tolylene diisocyanate dimers and trimers and the like; and (9) polyisocyanates such as prepolymers derived from a polyol, including polyether polyols or polyester polyols (including polyethers which are reacted with excess polyisocyanates to form isocyanate terminated prepolymers), simple polyols such as glycols (e.g., ethylene glycol, propylene glycol), other polyols such as glycerol, trimethylol propane, hexane triols, pentaerythritol and the like, as well as monoethers, e.g., diethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol and the like, and polyethers, i.e., alkylene oxide condensates of the above. While the polyisocyanate crosslinking agent may be any organic polyisocyanate as has been noted above, such crosslinking agents for coating composition to be employed as clear (top) coats are preferably aliphatic and cycloaliphatic polyisocyanates, due to their superior weatherability.

Especially preferred for use in clearcoat compositions of the invention are trimerized products of aliphatic diisocyanates such as 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate. Another particularly preferred type of crosslinking agent is a polyisocyanate having a biuret structure. This type of polyisocyanate is well known, as are methods for making the same. Suitable such polyisocyanate crosslinking agents are high molecular weight biurets of 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate sold by Mobay Chemical Company under the trademarks Desmodur N and Desmodure L 2291. Exemplary of other biuret type polyisocyanates are those prepared in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,622 to Wagner et al. Still other particularly preferred crosslinking agents are the isocyanurate diisocyanate compounds such as DES N-3390 and IPDI-T 1890 (both trademarks, Mobay Chemical Co.), the latter being the isocyanurate of hexamethylene diisocyanate.

Blocked polyisocyanate crosslinking agents are well known to the skilled of the art and many suitable for use in compositions of the invention are commercially available or readily prepared and will be apparent from the present disclosure. More specifically, blocked polyisocyanate crosslinking agents comprise the reaction product of a polyisocyanate, such as those mentioned above, with a blocking agent, that is, an active hydrogen-bearing reactant. Exemplary blocked polyisocyanates are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,938, which description is incorporated herein by reference.

Melamine based crosslinking agents suitable for crosslinking hydroxy functional bearing materials are well known in the art. Typically, these crosslinking materials are products of reactions of melamine, or urea with formaldehyde and various alcohols containing up to and including 4 carbon atoms. Preferably, the melamine based crosslinking agents are amine-aldehyde resins such as condensation products of formaldehyde with melamine, substituted melamine, urea, benzoguanamine or substituted benzoguanamine. Preferred members of this class are alkylated melamineformaldehyde resins in particular methylated melamine formaldehyde resins such as hexamethoxymethylmelamine. Particularly preferred crosslinkers are the high solids melamine resins which have substantially 95+ percent nonvolatile content. For so-called "high solids" compositions of this invention, it should be recognized that it is important not to introduce extraneous diluents that lower the final solids content of the coating. Other suitable melamine based crosslinking agents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Melamine based crosslinking agents are preferred for basecoat compositions of the invention. The melamine based crosslinking agent is generally included in a basecoat composition in an amount of between about 5 and about 60, preferably between about 20 and about 40 weight percent. However, selection of the particular amount of melamine based crosslinking agent to be employed in any such composition is dependent on the desired properties of the composition as well as its intended use and would be apparent to one skilled in the art.

Particularly preferred melamine based crosslinking agents are the amino-aldehyde crosslinking agents sold by American Cyanamid under the trademark "Cymel". In particular, Cymel 301, 303, 1130, 1133, 1156, 1161 and 1168 (trademarks) are alkylated melamine aldehyde resins useful in the compositions of this invention. The crosslinking reactions are catalytically accelerated by acids. One such catalyst, for example, which may be so employed is an aromatic sulfonic acid, such as p-toluene sulfonic acid which when employed is generally added to the composition in about 0.5% weight based on the total weight of the polyester graft copolymer and crosslinking agent.

Additional Materials

Additional materials which may be employed in the coating compositions of this invention include a high molecular weight linear polyurethane which has a number average molecular weight of between about 15,000 and about 40,000, preferably between about 20,000 and about 30,000. It may be made by reacting one of the above mentioned diisocyanates and diols, such as oligoester diol, polycaprolactone diol, polyoxypropylene diol, polyether diols, etc. Suitable high molecular weight linear polyurethane materials are commercially available, for example, as Spenlite L06-30S, (trademark, Spencer-Kellogg, Buffalo, N.Y.). It has been found that these high molecular weight polyurethanes may be employed in metallic flake pigment-bearing topcoat compositions in small amounts, typically up to about 15 weight percent based on the total weight of the polyester graft copolymer and crosslinking agent, to improve the orientation of the metallic flake pigment in the cured coating. It has been found that by including such linear polyurethane, for example, in a basecoat of a basecoat/clearcoat system, the depth of color and metallic glamour of the system may be improved.

Other materials which may be included in the coating compositions of this invention include, for example, catalysts, antioxidants, U.V. absorbers (for topcoats), solvents, surface modifiers and whitening agents. Solvents used in the coating composition of this invention are those which are commonly used, e.g., to facilitate spray application and high solids content and include toluene, xylene, methylethyl ketone, acetone, 2-ethoxy-1-ethanol, diacetone alcohol, tetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate, dimethylsuccinate, dimethylglutarate, dimethyladipate and mixtures thereof. The solvent in which the polyester graft copolymer is prepared may be employed as a solvent for the composition, thus eliminating the need for drying the resin after preparation, if such is desired.

Typical ultraviolet light stabilizers that are useful in topcoat compositions of this invention are benzophenones such as dodecyl oxibenzophenone, 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, hydroxybenzophenones containing sulfonic groups, 2,4-dihydroxy-3',5'-ditertiarybutylbenzophenone, 2,2',4'-trihydroxybenzopherone esters of dicarboxylic acids, 2-hydroxy-4-acryloxyethoxybenzophenone, aliphatic monoesters of 2,2',4-trihydroxy-4'-alkoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2-carboxybenzophenone, triazoles such as 2-phenyl-4-(2'4'-dihydroxybenzolyl)-triazoles, substituted benzotriazoles such as hydroxyphenyltriazoles such as 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole, and 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-octylphenyl)naphthiotriazole.

Another type of ultraviolet light stabilizer and one that is particularly preferred for use in the coatings of this invention is that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,084 entitled "Polymeric Light Stabilizers" to Kordomenos et al. These stabilizers contain the sterically hindered polyalkylpiperidine radical and at least two primary hydroxyl groups available for reacting with the crosslinking agent, e.g., melamine based or polyisocyanate, of the coating composition.

Typical antioxidants which may be employed in the coating composition include tetrakis alkylene(di-alkyl hydroxy aryl)alkyl ester alkanes such as tetrakis methylene 3-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-4'-hydroxyphenyl)propionate methane (available under the trademark Irganox 1010 from Ciba-Geigy Corp.). Also suitable are the reaction product of p-amino diphenylamine and glycidyl methacrylate, the reaction product of n-hexyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylene diamine and glycidyl methacrylate, pentaerythritol tetrakis(thioglycolate), trimethylol propane tris(thioglycolate), trimethylol ethane tris(thioglycoate), N-(4-anilinophenyl)maleimide, alkylhydroxyphenyl groups bonded through carboalkoxy linkages to nitrogen atom of a heterocyclic nucleus containing an imidodicarbonyl group or an imidodithiocarbonyl group, 3,3-ditertbutyl-4-hydroxy-cinnamonitrile, ethyl-3,5-diterthexyl-4-hydroxy-cinnamate, substituted benzyl esters of beta-substituted (hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acids, bis-(hydroxyphenylalkylene)alkyl isocyanurate compounds, tetrakis hydroxy benzyl phosphonium halides alone or in combination with a dialkylthiodialkanoate, thiodimethylidyne tetrakisphenols alone or in combination with a dialkyl thiodialkanoate or phosphite or phosphonate, dihydrocarbyl-hydroxyphenyl aryl or alkyl phosphonites or phosphonates or phosphates or phosphinites or phosphinates or phosphionites or phosphorothionates or phosphinothionates, diphenyl-bis(3,5-ditertbutyl-4-hydroxyphenoxy)silane, hydrocarbylhydroxyphenyl-dihydrocarbyldithio-carbamates such as 3,5-ditertbutyl-4-hydroxyphenyl dimethyldithiocarbamate and amino benzyl thioether.

In one preferred embodiment a base/clear topcoat system is provided, wherein both the basecoat and the clearcoat comprise a resin and crosslinker composition according to the invention. The basecoat would preferably contain only a benzotriazole U.V. stabilizer such as Tinuvin 328 (trademark, Ciba-Geigy, Ardsley, N.Y.), and the clearcoat would contain a benzotriazole U.V. stabilizer, e.g., Tinuvin 328, the polymeric hindered amine light stabilizer of the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,084 to Kordomenos et al and an antioxidant, e.g., Irganox-1010 (trademark; Ciba-Geigy). While preferred combinations of stabilizers and antioxidants have been described, these teachings are not meant to be limiting. Selection of suitable stabilizers and antioxidants is within the skill of one in the art.

Surface modifiers or wetting agents are common additives for liquid paint compositions. The exact mode of operation of these surface modifiers is not known, but it is thought that their presence contributes to better adhesion of coating compositions to the surface being coated and helps formation of thin coatings, particularly on metal surfaces. The choice of surface modifiers or wetting agents is dependent upon the type(s) of surface to be coated. Selection of appropriate surface modifiers is well within the skill of the art. Typical of these surface modifiers are polybutyl acrylate and a wide variety of silicon wetting agents which are commercially available.

For many applications of the coating compositions of the invention, particularly high solids compositions, it may be desirable to employ flow control additives to provide sag free coatings. Among the many such materials which are known are non-aqueous dispersions (NAD's) such as described by Porter (S. Porter, Jr., and B. N. McBane, U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,474, May 24, 1977). These particle dispersions may be included generally in an amount up to 15% by weight of the total composition. Other types of NAD's such as described by D. L. Maker and S. C. Peng (U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,721, June 4, 1974) or by S. K. Horvath (U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,681, Nov. 15, 1983) also may be included in the coating compositions.

Coating compositions according to certain embodiments of the invention may contain pigments. Thus, for example, primer compositions and the basecoat of a base/clear system may comprise any of the wide variety of suitable pigments which are known to the art and readily commercially available. Selection of suitable pigments and the amounts of same will depend largely on the intended use and desired properties of the coating, for example, desired color, hiding properties, etc., and is within the skill of those in the art.

The coating composition can be applied by conventional methods known to those in the art. These methods include roll coating, spray coating, electrostatic spray coating, dipping or brushing. The particular application technique chosen will depend upon the particular substrate to be coated and the environment in which the coating operation takes place. Preferred techniques for applying these coating compositions, particularly when applying the same to automobiles, is spray coating through the nozzle of the spray gun. A basecoat, for example, can be applied as a single component by means of a single component spray gun. On the other hand, in spray applying a two component clearcoat composition, the polyester graft copolymer and additives such as pigments, U.V. absorbers, antioxidants and other nonreactive materials are admixed with a solvent. These materials are fed as one component of a two component system into a spray gun which combines the materials as they are sprayed into the automotive substrate. The other material is the polyisocyanate crosslinking agent, which may or may not be cut with a suitable nonreactive solvent.

The invention will be further understood by referring to the following detailed examples. It should be understood that the specific examples are presented by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. Unless otherwise specified, all references to "parts" are intended to mean parts by weight.

EXAMPLE I

A urethane modified hydroxy functional polyester reactant was prepared according to this example. Into a suitable reactor were charged 720 parts Esterdiol-204 (trademark, Union Carbide, Danbury, Conn.; 2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypropyl-2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy propionate), 216 parts trimethylolpropane, 504 parts adipic acid, and 2 parts of dibutyl tin oxide. The mixture was heated at 300° F. and water was distilled off until the acid number dropped below 10. The batch was then thinned with 150 parts of xylene. The temperature was lowered to 200° F. and 255 parts of Desmondur W (trademark, Mobay Chemical Co., Pittsburgh, PA, diisocyanate) was added dropwise in a period of two hours. After addition was complete, the mixture was postreacted at 200° F. until no NCO group was observed in an IR spectrum. At this point the batch was thinned with 2245 parts of xylene. The final product had A viscosity at 39.4% solids and an acid number of 2.03.

EXAMPLE II

Hydroxy functional carbon-carbon double bond-bearing branched polyester macromer of this invention was prepared according to this example. In a suitable reactor were charged 1085 parts of resin from Example I, 36.8 parts diaminobicyclooctane (DABCO), 511 parts of xylene, and 0.0836 parts of hydroquinone. The mixture was brought to reflux (300° F.) and any water present was stripped out. The temperature was lowered to 175° F. and 50.06 parts vinyl benzyl chloride in 400 parts xylene was added dropwise over a period of 30 minutes. After addition was complete, the mixture was postreacted at 175° F. for 5 hours to yield a resin with a final viscosity of A at 35.5% solids.

EXAMPLE III

Hydroxy functional carbon-carbon double bond-bearing branched polyester macromer of this invention was prepared according to this example. Into a suitable reactor were charged 1085 parts of the resin from Example I, 39.75 gms 2,4,6-collidine, 0.0836 parts of hydroquinone, and 511 parts xylene. The mixture was brought to reflux (300° F.) and any water present was stripped out. The temperature was lowered to 150° F. and 50.1 parts of vinyl benzyl chloride in 400 parts of xylene was added dropwise over a period of 30 minutes. After addition was complete, the mixture was postreacted at 175° F. for 5 hours to yield a resin with a final viscosity of A at 35.1% solids.

EXAMPLE IV

Hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer of this invention was prepared according to this example. Into a suitable reactor was charged 440 parts of xylene and 7.2 parts of cumene hydroperoxide. The temperature was raised to 275° F. and a mixture of 1784 parts of resin from Example II, 242 parts of butylmethacrylate, 24 parts of hydroxypropylmethacrylate, 50 parts of methylmethacrylate, and 8.6 parts of t-butylperbenzoate were added dropwise over a period of 5 hours. The mixture was postreacted at 270° F. over 2 hours. The temperature was raised to 300° F. and 950 parts of xylene were stripped off. The final product had a Z-2 viscosity at 67.7% solids.

EXAMPLE V

Hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer of this invention was prepared according to this example. Into a suitable reactor were charged 440 parts of xylene and 7.2 parts of cumene hydroperoxide. The temperature was raised to 275° F. and a mixture of 1784 parts of the resin from Example III, 242 parts of butylmethacrylate, 24 parts of hydroxypropylmethacrylate, 50 parts of methylmethacrylate, and 7.2 parts of t-butylperbenzoate were added dropwise over a period of 5 hours. The mixture was postreacted at 270° F. for 2 hours. The temperature was raised to 300° F. and 900 parts of xylene were stripped off. The final product has a viscosity of V-W at 68.4% solids.

EXAMPLE VIII

A hydroxy functional polyester reactant of this invention was prepared according to this example. Into a suitable reactor were charged 1440 parts Esterdiol-204 (trademark, Union Carbide, New York, NY, diol), 980 parts Tone-301 (trademark, Union Carbide, polycaprolactone tiol), 4 parts Fascat 400 (trademark, M & T Chemicals, Rahway, NJ, catalyst), 504 parts adipic acid, and 510 parts phthalic anhydride. The mixture was heated at 300° F. and water distilled off until the acid number dropped to 7.4. The batch was then cooled and thinned with 1122 parts of xylene.

EXAMPLE IX

Hydroxy functional carbon-carbon double bond-bearing branched polyester macromer of this invention was prepared according to this example. Into a suitable reactor were charged 1000 parts of the resin from Example VIII, 0.08 parts hydroquinone, and 56 parts 2,4,6-collidine. This mixture was heated to 165° F. at which time 70.5 parts vinylbenzyl chloride was added dropwise over a period of 30 minutes. The mixture was postreacted at 250° F. for 5 hours.

EXAMPLE X

Hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer of this invention was prepared according to this example. Into a suitable reactor were charged 242 parts Exxate 600 (trademark, Exxon Chemical Co., Houston, TX. oxohexylacetate). The solvent was heated to 300° F. at which time a mixture of 940 parts of the resin of Example IX, 266.9 parts iso-butyl methacrylate, 72.6 parts styrene, 32 parts hydroxyethylacrylate, and 24.6 parts acrylic acid, and 4.8 parts Lupersol 533M75 (trademark, Lucidol Pennwalt Chemical Co., Buffalo, N.Y., ethyl-3,3-di-(T-amylperoxy)butyrate) was added over a period of 4 hours. The reaction mixture was postreacted at 300° F. for 2 hours then cooled to afford a resin with a P viscosity at 65.2% solids.

EXAMPLE XA

A hydroxy functional polyester reactant of this invention is prepared according to this example. Into a suitable reactor are charged 509 parts 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM, available from Eastman Chemicals), 720 parts Esterdiol-204 (trademark, Union Carbide), 4 parts Fascat 4100 (trademark, M & T Chemicals, catalyst), 504 parts adipic acid, and 679 parts dimethyl-1-4-cyclohexane-dicarboxylate (DMCD, available from Eastman Chemicals). The mixture is heated to 350° F. and a mixture of water and methanol is distilled off until the acid number drops below 10. The resin is cooled and thinned with 1122 parts xylene.

EXAMPLE XB

Hydroxy functional carbon-carbon double bond bearing branched polyester macromer of this invention is prepared according to this example. Into a suitable reactor is charged 1000 parts of the resin from Example XA, 0.08 parts hydroquinone, and 56 parts 2,4,6-collidine. The mixture is heated to 165° L F. at which time 70.5 parts of the chloracetate of hydroxyethylacrylate is added dropwise over a period of 30 minutes. The mixture is post-reacted at 21° F. for 5 hours.

EXAMPLE XC

Hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer of this invention was prepared according to this example. Into a suitable reactor is charged 242 parts Ektapro EEP (trademark, Eastman Chemical Co., solvent). The solvent is heated to 310° F. at which time a mixture of 950 parts of the resin from Example XB, 260 parts butylmethacrylate, 73 parts methylmethacrylate, 32 parts hydroxypropylacrylate, and 48 parts t-butylperacetate is added dropwise over a period of 4 hours. The reaction mixture is post-reacted at 310° F. for 1 hour then cooled to afford a resin at 70% solids.

EXAMPLE XI TAUPE MILLBASE FORMULATION

The following materials are charged into a ball mill and ground to form a millbase.

    ______________________________________                                         Charge                Parts                                                    ______________________________________                                         Resin from Example V  166                                                      Methyl amyl ketone    96                                                       Butyl cellosolve acetate                                                                             106                                                      Anti-skinning agent.sup.1                                                                            2                                                        Barium sulfate        526                                                      Titanium dioxide      72                                                       Zinc chromate         10                                                       Talc #399.sup.2       5                                                        Amorphous silica.sup.3                                                                               23                                                       Black Iron Oxide      0.5                                                      Polyethylene Wax      25                                                       Anti-settling and wetting agent.sup.4                                                                6.5                                                      Red Iron Oxide        14                                                       ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Skino #2, trademark, Mooney Chemical, Cleveland, Ohio                   .sup.2 Trademark, Whittaker, Clark, and Daniels, Willowbrook, Ill.             .sup.3 Imsil A10, trademark, Illinois Minerals Co., Cairo, Ill.                .sup.4 AntiTerra-U, trademark, BykGulden Inc., Mellville, N.Y.           

EXAMPLE XII-XIV

Flexible primer compositions according to the present invention are formulated according to the following examples. The compositions are applied over Bonderite steel panels and baked at 380° F. for 20 minutes to afford flexible, durable primers with excellent adhesion and hardness.

    ______________________________________                                                           Example                                                                        XII   XIII    XIV                                            Composition         Parts                                                      ______________________________________                                         Resin from Example IV                                                                              1956                                                       Resin from Example V        1936                                               Resin from Example X                2031                                       Taupe millbase of Example XI                                                                       7850    7850    7850                                       Cymel 1133.sup.1    502     502     502                                        Resimene 717.sup.2  500     500     500                                        Catalyst solution.sup.3                                                                            246     246     246                                        Cargill XP-5770-85.sup.4 polyester                                                                 827     827     827                                        K-flex.sup.5        462     462     462                                        Flow control additive.sup.6                                                                        248     248     248                                        Modarez TMF25.sup.7 17      17      17                                         Polybutylacrylate   100     100     100                                        Manganese naphthenate                                                                              30      30      30                                         Butanol             100     100     100                                        ______________________________________                                         The above compositions are adjusted to 28 sec. #4FC (80° F.)            with toluene.                                                                  .sup.1 Trademark, American Cyanamid, Stamford, CT.                             .sup.2 Trademark, Monsanto, St. Louis, MO.                                     .sup.3 Acid catalyst solution of following formulation:                                  Parts                                                                Butyl acetate                                                                            450                                                                  Ethanol   100                                                                  VMP naphtha                                                                              256                                                                  Methanol  44                                                                   Dionized water                                                                           50                                                                   Nacure 2501*                                                                             100                                                                  *(blocked acid catalyst trademark, King Industries,                            Norwalk, CT.)                                                                  .sup.4 Trademark, Cargill, Minneapolis, MN.                                    .sup.5 Polyester polyol, trademark, King Industries                            .sup.6 Prepared according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,450, Examples                 1-3.                                                                           .sup.7 Flow control additive, trademark, Synthron, Inc.,                       Morganton, N.C.                                                           

EXAMPLE XV WHITE MILLBASE FORMULATION

The following materials were charged into a ball mill and ground to form a mill base.

    ______________________________________                                         Composition       Parts                                                        ______________________________________                                         Butylacetate      57                                                           ICI 9000.sup.1    5.7                                                          EZ-100.sup.2      28.5                                                         Xylene            3986                                                         Butanol           8087                                                         Cymel 1161.sup.3  112                                                          Cymel 1130.sup.4  4485                                                         Titanium dioxide  15991                                                        Resin from Example V                                                                             4144                                                         ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Wetting agent, trademark, ICI Americas Inc., Wilmington, DE.            .sup.2 Trademark, United Catalysts, Inc., Louisville, KY., Quaternary          ammonium complex of gentonite clay.                                            .sup.3 Trademark; American Cyanamid; alkylated melamine crosslinking           agent.                                                                         .sup.4 Trademark; American Cyanamid; alkylated melamine crosslinking           agent.                                                                   

EXAMPLES XVI-XVIII

Flexible enamel compositions according to the present invention were formulated according to the following examples and applied over both metal and plastic substrates. The coatings were baked at 250° F. for 30 minutes to afford cured coatings which were flexible and durable.

    ______________________________________                                                        Examples                                                                       XVI     XVII    XVIII                                           Composition      Parts                                                         ______________________________________                                         Resin from Example IV                                                                           180.3                                                         Resin from Example V       178.4                                               Resin from Example X               187.2                                       Para-toluene sulfonic acid                                                                      4.5       4.5     4.5                                         solution (40% in butanol)                                                      UV absorber solution.sup.1                                                                      23        23      23                                          Polybutylacrylate                                                                               0.9       0.9     0.9                                         Acryloid B-82.sup.2 (25%                                                                        2.8       2.8     2.8                                         in xylene)                                                                     Millbase of Example XV                                                                          116       116     116                                         Cymel 1130.sup.3 19        19      19                                          Cymel 303.sup.4  34        34      34                                          Butanol          13.8      13.8    13.8                                        ______________________________________                                         The above compositions were adjusted to 26 sec. #4FC                           (80° F.) with Exxate 700.sup.5 /butyl acetate (40/60 W/W)               .sup.1 UV absorber solution:                                                            Parts                                                                 Butanol  2305                                                                  Tinuvin 440.sup.6                                                                       500                                                                   CGL1130.sup.7                                                                           500                                                                   Inganox 1010.sup.8                                                                      55                                                                    .sup.2 Trademark, Rohm & Haas, Philadelphia, PA., acrylic                      polymer.                                                                       .sup.3 Trademark, American Cyanamid, alkylated melamine                        crosslinking agent.                                                            .sup.4 Trademark, American Cyanamid, alkylated melamine                        crosslinking agent.                                                            .sup.5 Trademark, Exxon Chemical Co. oxoheptylacetate solvent.                 .sup.6 Trademark, Ciba-Geigy, Hawthorne, NY., HALS                             .sup.7 Trademark, Ciba Geigy, UV absorber (benzotriazole).                     .sup.8 Trademark, Ciba-Beigy, antioxidant.                                

EXAMPLES XIX-XXI

Universal basecoats according to the present invention were formulated according to the following examples.

    ______________________________________                                                        Example                                                                        XIX    XX        XXI                                            Composition      Parts                                                         ______________________________________                                         Resin from Example IV                                                                           1030.9                                                        Resin from Example V      1020.4                                               Resin from Example X                1070.4                                     Aluminum stearate                                                                               800      800       800                                        Tinuvin 328.sup.1 (30% in xylene)                                                               400      400       400                                        K-flex.sup.2     160      160       160                                        Flow control additive.sup.3                                                                     800      800       800                                        Butyl cellosolve acetate                                                                        160      160       160                                        Acid catalyst.sup.4                                                                             120      120       120                                        Cymel 1130.sup.5 437      437       437                                        Esterdiol.sup.6 solution                                                                        37       37        37                                         Cymel 1161.sup.7 293      293       293                                        Aluminum millbase.sup.8                                                                         1024     1024      1024                                       ______________________________________                                         The above compositions were adjusted with methyl amyl                          ketone to 15 sec #4FC (80° F.).                                         .sup.1 Trademark, Ciba-Geigy, UV absorber solution.                            .sup.2 Trademark, King Industries, polyester polyol.                           .sup.3 Microgel prepared according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,450                  Examples 1-3                                                                   .sup.4 Para-toluene sulfonic acid (40% in butanol)                             .sup.5 Trademark, American Cyanamid, alkylated melamine                        crosslinking agent.                                                            .sup.6 Trademark, Union Carbide, 60% in isopropanol/xylene                     (50/50 W/W)                                                                    .sup.7 Trademark, American Cyanamid, alkylated melamine                        crosslinking agent.                                                            .sup.8 Aluminum millbase formulation:                                                     Parts                                                               Aluminum paste                                                                            3328                                                                Cymel 1161 1281                                                                Polyethylene wax                                                                          225                                                                 Nuosperse 700*                                                                            57                                                                  *Trademark, Tenneco Chemical, Piscataway, N.J., wetting                        agent (50% in xylene).                                                    

EXAMPLES XXII-XXIV

One component universal clearcoats of the present invention were formulated according to the following examples.

    ______________________________________                                                         Example                                                                        XXII   XXIII    XXIV                                           Composition       Parts                                                        ______________________________________                                         Resin from Example IV                                                                            703.7                                                        Resin from Example V       696.5                                               Resin from Example X                730.7                                      Cymel 1161.sup.1  211      211      211                                        Polybutylacrylate 12.1     12.1     12.1                                       Para-toluene sulfonic acid                                                                       22.8     22.8     22.8                                       (40% in butanol)                                                               Acryloid B-82.sup.2 (50% in xylene)                                                              18.3     18.3     18.3                                       EZ-100.sup.3 (5% in xylene)                                                                      9.1      9.1      9.1                                        UV absorber solution.sup.4                                                                       105      105      105                                        Methanol          60.8     60.8     60.8                                       Tetralin          133      133      133                                        ______________________________________                                         The above compositions were adjusted to 24 sec #4FC (80° F.)            with butyl acetate/butyl cellosolve acetate (70/30 W/W)                        .sup.1 Trademark, American Cyanamid, alkylated melamine                        crosslinking agent.                                                            .sup.2 Trademark, Rohm & Haas, acrylic polymer.                                .sup.3 Quatermary ammonium complex of bentonite clay, trademark,               United Catalysts, Louisville, KY.                                              .sup.4 UV absorber solution                                                             Parts                                                                 Butanol  2305                                                                  Tinuvin 440.sup.5                                                                       500                                                                   CGL 1130.sup.6                                                                          500                                                                   Irganox 1010.sup.7                                                                      55                                                                    .sup.5 Trademark, Ciba-Geigy, Hindered amine light stabilizer.                 .sup.6 Trademark, Ciba-Geigy, UV absorber.                                     .sup.7 Trademark, Ciba-Geigy, antioxidant.                                

EXAMPLES XXV-XXXIII

One component basecoat/clearcoat coating systems according to the present invention were prepared according to these examples. Specifically, the one component basecoats and one component clearcoats identified in Table A were applied, by spraying, wet on wet over both metal and plastic substrates. The coatings were cured at 250° F. for 30 minutes. Film thicknesses ranged from 0.6-0.8 mils for basecoats and 1.8-2.0 mils for clearcoats upon cure. The cured coatings were tested for flexibility, resistance to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and resistance to ultra violet light degradation. The test results are shown in Table A.

                                      TABLE A                                      __________________________________________________________________________                            MEK                                                          Basecoat                                                                             Clearcoat                                                                            %     Resistance                                                                              QUV                                            Example                                                                             of Example                                                                           of Example                                                                           Elongation                                                                           (10 Double rubs)                                                                        (1000 hrs)                                     __________________________________________________________________________     XXV  XIX   XXII  70    Exc      Exc                                            XXVI XX    XXIII 70    Exc      Exc                                            XXVII                                                                               XXI   XXIV  60    Exc      Good                                           XXVIII                                                                              XIX   XXIV  65    Exc      Good                                           XXIX XX    XXII  70    Exc      Exc                                            XXX  XXI   XXIII 65    Exc      Good                                           XXXI XIX   XXIII 70    Exc      Exc                                            XXXII                                                                               XX    XVIV  65    Exc      Good                                           XXIII                                                                               XXI   XXII  70    Exc      Exc                                            __________________________________________________________________________      "Exc" = Excellent                                                        

EXAMPLES XXXIV-XXXVI

Two component universal clearcoats according to the present invention are formulated according to the following examples.

    ______________________________________                                                     Example                                                                        XXXIV     XXXV    XXXVI                                            Composition           Parts                                                    ______________________________________                                         Resin from Example IV                                                                        73.7                                                             Resin from Example V      72.9                                                 Resin from Example X              76.5                                         Polybutylacrylate                                                                            1.6         1.6     1.6                                          Tetralin      5.4         5.4     5.4                                          UV absorber/stabilizer                                                                       13.9        13.9    13.9                                         Pkg.sup.1                                                                      Xylene        30          30      30                                           Stannous octoate                                                                             0.4         0.4     0.4                                          Flow control additive                                                                        25          25      25                                           Desmodur N-3390.sup.3                                                                        28          28      28                                           ______________________________________                                          The above compositions are reduced to 22 sec. #4 Ford cup (80° F.)      with a blend of Exxate 600.sup.2 /butyl acetate (60/40 w/w).                   .sup.1 Solution of: 25 parts Tinuvin 079L.sup.4, 8 parts Tinuvin               900.sup.4, 7 parts Tinuvin 328.sup.4, and 60 parts xylene.                     .sup.2 Trademark, Exxon Chemical Co.; oxohexylacetate.                         .sup.3 Trademark, Mobay Chemical Co.; polyisocyanate crosslinking agent.       .sup.4 Trademark, CibaGeigy; UV absorber.                                

EXAMPLES XXXVII-XXXIX

One component basecoat/two component clearcoat coating systems according to the present invention are prepared according to these examples. Specifically, the one component base coats and two component clearcoats identified in Table B are applied, by spraying, wet on wet over both metal and plastic substrates. The coatings are cured at 250° F. for 30 minutes. Film thickness range for basecoats from 0.6-0.8 mils and from 1.8-2.0 mils for clearcoats upon cure. The cured coatings are tested for flexibility, resistance to methyl ethyl ketone, and resistance to ultra violet light degradation. The test results are shown in Table B.

                                      TABLE B                                      __________________________________________________________________________                             MEK                                                          Basecoat                                                                             Clearcoat                                                                            %     Resistance                                                                              QUV                                           Example                                                                              of Example                                                                           of Example                                                                           Elongation                                                                           (10 Double rubs)                                                                        (1000 hrs)                                    __________________________________________________________________________     XXXVII                                                                               XVII  XXIII 90    Exc      Exc                                           XXXVIII                                                                              XVIII XXIV  90    Exc      Exc                                           XXXIX XIX   XXV   85    Exc      Exc                                           __________________________________________________________________________      "Exc" = Excellent                                                        

Industrial Applicability

It will be apparent from the foregoing that this invention has industrial applicability as a protective coating, for example on motor vehicle body panels, and for like applications and provides a flexible, durable coating for metal, plastic and other substrates.

In view of this disclosure, many modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all such modifications which fall within the true scope of this invention be included within the terms of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A solvent based coating composition useful as an automotive coating on metal and plastic substrates comprising:(A) hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer which has a number average molecular weight between about 1,300 and about 15,000, a hydroxyl number between about 30 and about 300, and is the reaction product of carbon-carbon double bond-reactive monoethylenically unsaturated monomers with hydroxy functional branched polyester macromer having a terminal carbon-carbon double bond, under free radical polymerization reaction conditions, said monomers bearing substantially no functionality which is substantially reactive with hydroxy functionality of said macromer under said reaction conditions and said monomers being polymerized to form a polymeric chain grafted to the macromer by the carbon-carbon double bond, said macromer being the reaction product of: (i) hydroxy functional polyester reactant formed by reacting polyol with a saturated dicarboxylic acid or corresponding anhydrides thereof and having about 0-10 urethane groups per molecule with (ii) halide compound selected from the group consisting of vinyl alkyl halide compound and vinyl aryl halide compound, wherein the reaction of (i) and (ii) takes place under conditions that promote substantially only the reaction between the halide moiety of compound (ii) and the hydroxyl groups of reactant (i) wherein said hydroxy functional polyester reactant and said halide compound are reacted in about 1:1 molar ratio; and (B) polyfunctional, hydroxy reactive crosslinking agent.
 2. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein said halide compound has a molecular weight between about 50 and about
 300. 3. The coating composition of claim 2, wherein said halide compound has a molecular weight between about 80 and about
 160. 4. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein said halide of said halide compound is selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide.
 5. The coating composition of claim 4, wherein said halide compound is selected from the group consisting of vinyl benzyl halides and the bromoacetates and chloroacetates of hydroxyacrylates and hydroxymethacrylates.
 6. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein said carbon-carbon double bond-reactive monoethylenically unsaturated monomer consists of acrylate monomers selected from the group consisting of alkylacrylate, alkyl methacrylate, hydroxyalkylacrylate, hydroxyalkyl methacrylate and mixtures thereof, wherein each alkyl and hydroxyalkyl moiety has one to about seven carbons.
 7. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein said carbon-carbon double bond-reactive monoethylenically unsaturated monomer consists of monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, styrene, and methylacrylate, ethylacrylate, propylacrylate, butylacrylate, methylmethacrylate, ethylmethacrylate, propylmethacrylate, butylmethacrylate, hydroxyethylacrylate, hydroxypropylacrylate, hydroxybutylacrylate, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, hydroxypropylmethacrylate, hydroxybutylmethacrylate and any mixture thereof.
 8. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein said hydroxy functional polyester reactant comprises the reaction product of dicarboxylic acid with polyol comprising at least about 5 percent by weight triol, said dicarboxylic acid being selected from the group consisting of saturated, cyclic and acyclic aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and aromatic dicarboxylic acids, suitable anhydrides thereof, and mixtures thereof.
 9. The coating composition of claim 8, wherein said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of saturated, acyclic, aliphatic dimer acids of about 6-36 carbons.
 10. The coating composition of claim 8 wherein said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, dodecane dicarboxylic acid, phthalic anhydride and any mixtures thereof.
 11. The coating composition of claim 8 wherein said polyol comprises diol and triol in hydroxy equivalent ratio of from about 4:1 to about 1:4.
 12. The coating composition of claim 11 wherein said triol is selected from the groups consisting of trimethylol propane, polycaprolactone triol, and any mixture thereof.
 13. The coating composition of claim 11 wherein said diol is aliphatic diol of the general formula HO--R--OH, wherein R is a divalent, aliphatic, linking moiety substantially unreactive with said dicarboxylic acid.
 14. The coating composition of claim 13, wherein said aliphatic diol has a molecular weight of about 60-500 and is selected from the group consisting of trimethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol, alkyl substituted or unsubstituted propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol and hexanediol, and a mixture of any of them.
 15. The coating composition of claim 11, wherein said diol is selected from the group consisting of alkyl glycol of about 2-7 carbons, and any mixture thereof.
 16. The coating composition of claim 8 wherein said hydroxy functional polyester reactant is urethane modified, said polyol comprising the reaction product of organic diisocyanate with polyhydroxy reactant.
 17. The coating composition of claim 16 wherein said diisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of phenylene diisocyanate, biphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-biphenylene diisocyanate, diisocyanatoalkane wherein the alkane moiety has about three to about ten carbons, and a compatible mixture of any of them.
 18. The coating composition of claim 1 wherein said hydroxy functional polyester is urethane modified, comprising the reaction product of organic diisocyanate with the reaction product of dicarboxylic acid with polyol comprising at least about 5 percent by weight triol, said dicarboxylic acid being selected from the group consisting of saturated cyclic and acyclic aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, aromatic dicarboxylic acids, suitable anhydrides thereof, and any mixture thereof.
 19. The coating composition of claim 18 wherein said halide compound is selected from the group consisting of vinyl benzyl halides and the chloroacetates and bromoacetates of hydroxyacrylates and hydroxymethacrylates.
 20. The coating composition of claim 18 wherein said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of saturated, acyclic, aliphatic dimer acids of about 6-36 carbons.
 21. The coating composition of claim 18 wherein said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid, azelaic acid, sebasic acid, dodecane dicarboxylic acid and any mixture thereof.
 22. The coating composition of claim 19, wherein said polyol comprises diol and triol in hydroxy equivalent ratio of from about 4:1 to about 1:4.
 23. The coating composition of claim 22, wherein said diol has a molecular weight of about 60-500 and is selected from the group consisting of trimethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol, alkyl substituted or unsubstituted propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol and hexanediol, and a mixture of any of them.
 24. The coating composition of claim 22, wherein said triol is selected from the group consisting of trimethylol propane, polycaprolactone triol, and any mixture thereof.
 25. The coating composition of claim 18, wherein said diisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of phenyl diisocyanate, biphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-biphenylene diisocyanate, diisocyanatoalkane wherein the alkane moiety has about three to about 53 n carbons, and a compatible mixture of any of them.
 26. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein said polyfunctional, hydroxy-reactive crosslinking agent is selected from polyisocyanate crosslinking agent and blocked polyisocyanate crosslinking agent comprising at least two isocyanate groups blocked by reaction with active hydrogen bearing blocking agent, and a compatible mixture of any of them, said crosslinking agent being included in an amount sufficient to provide, at a cure temperature of said composition, between about 0.5 and about 1.6 hydroxy reactive groups per hydroxy group present on said hydroxy functional polyester graft copolymer.
 27. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein said polyfunctional, hydroxy-reactive crosslinking agent is melamine based crosslinking agent, said crosslinking agent being included in said composition in an amount between about 10% and about 60% by weight of the total resin solids. 